Photographer's Note
Pictured here is a Chinese vendor in Tiretti Bazaar located at Sun Yat Sen Street in the central part of Kolkata (Calcutta), which at one point of time was home to about 20000 Chinese Indian nationals. Every morning around 5:30 a.m., the narrow street comes alive with a number of stalls selling traditional Chinese food items like chicken and pork Momos, Sausages, Soup, Noodles, Dumplings, Shu mei, Buns and the like which have been collectively given the name ‘Chinese Breakfast’ by the people of Kolkata. The stalls fold up by 8 a.m. after which the traffic starts to increase. During my visit, I found Chinese men and women of various ages buying and selling a variety of items who were quite comfortable while mixing and interacting with the local (Indian) population some of whom were there to savour the delicacies while a few others had makeshift shops of their own.
The Chinese history of Kolkata is more than 200 years old with the first migrations having taken place in the 1770s. The first recorded Chinese settler near Calcutta was Tong Achew who set up a sugarcane plantation and a sugar factory near Budge-Budge located about 30 km from the city. After his premature death, all his Chinese employees settled at Tiretti bazaar, in the central part and Tangra, in the eastern part of the city which went on to become the old and the new Chinatown of Calcutta. The early Chinese settlers worked hard and prospered as entrepreneurs operating restaurants, beauty salons, tanneries, carpentry shops and so on and a large number also found work at the Calcutta port on the river Hooghly. The Chinese community of Kolkata was at one point of time, more than 20000 strong. The present population, however, has shrunk to about 2000 the reasons for which are many.
I have added two more pictures in the WORKSHOP section, one showing the items on offer and the second showing how crowded the area gets at 6 in the morning.
Best viewed large in a new tab.
Critiques | Translate
holmertz
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 12430 W: 572 N: 23864]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(102066) 2019-06-13 7:04
Hello Satya,
We see the steam rising temptingly from the very fresh momos and I get an impression they will all be sold with minutes. When I stayed several times in the backpacker district around Sudder Street, where Free School Street, now Mirza Ghalib Street, was the main thoroughfare, there was a substantial Chinese presence. Whenever I got temporarily tired of Indian food there would always be a cheap Chinese restaurant next door.
This is a very nice snapshot that evokes many pleasant memories. Interesting photos in the WS too.
Kind regards,
Gert
claudeD
(47754) 2019-06-13 7:36
Hello Satya,
wonderful street life picture from Kolkata with an excellent composition and fine sharpness.A very good contribution to TE.TFS.
With regards from Luxembourg
JC
Silvio1953
(220717) 2019-06-13 7:57
Ciao Satya, nice scene, fine details, excellent clarity, splendid light and wonderful colors very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio
Nicou
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 15936 W: 0 N: 17040]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(193806) 2019-06-13 8:02
Hello
Cette mainet ce bras avec les bagues en premier plan l'autre personnage et quelle sècne et vue avec cet homme quei pépare des plast dans la rue fantastique la buée qui sort de la casserole et on voit la nourriture é l'intérieurs superbe
Bravo et amitié
Nicou
carlo62
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5970 W: 34 N: 8526]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(81265) 2019-06-13 8:44
Ciao Satya
non sapevo che esistesse una comunità così grande di cinesi a Calcutta.
Tre belle foto di vita che confermano la tua nota molto interessante.
Ottima condivisione.
Saluti
Carlo
jhm
(211734) 2019-06-13 10:27
Hello Satya,
A nice detailed picture.
Excellent composition and lovely presentation
Sharpness and clarity are perfect. TFS.
Best regards,
John.
PaulVDV
(62810) 2019-06-13 11:47
Hello Satya,
I've never been in that part of India and your note learns me a lot of new things.
At first I thought these people might have come from the Himalayan parts of India. I didn't know anything of the Chinese history of Kolkata.
So glad to learn this here.
In Kochin I've eaten momos ... but that was in a Tibetan restaurant.
Beautiful pictures to show us the cultural and culinary diversity of Kolkata.
Excellently sharp daily life-photos.
Best regards, Paul
jean113
(27639) 2019-06-13 13:53
Hello Satya, three good shots that give us a sense of street life.
I like that you have captured the steam as it rises from the pan, and the man is engrossed in his cooking.
It can’t be easy cooking in this way amongst all the people.
Thanks for sharing,
Regards Jean.
jimmyjimmy
(6164) 2019-06-13 20:37
Hello Satya
Well done on the note with the awesome accompanying images. I them very much. Thank you for sharing your part of the world.
Jimmy
abmdsudi
(95869) 2019-06-13 21:09
Hi Satya
Nice shot and you have got this just right it fills the frame nicely, good color, interest and sharp! Excellent street grab, Congrats
Best regards
COSTANTINO
(115605) 2019-06-13 22:57
Hello dea friend and have a nice weekend
original version
wonderful street life picture with
great sharpness and clarity
this chinese vendor is in the
central part of Kolkata
regards
Costantino
Tue
(91658) 2019-06-13 23:00
Hello Satya,
A very good daily life photo from this market, where this man is preparing a Chinese breakfast. The photo is well-composed and you captured the man and the serious expression on his face very well.
Lars
ifege
(47069) 2019-06-13 23:14
Hi Satya
It all looks very enticing. Another good street photo.
cheers
Ian
pajaran
(115025) 2019-06-13 23:42
Dobar dan.
Lep pogled i trenutak, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lepo pokazano, dobar kontrast, lepe boje, dobro uhvacen trenutak.
Lep trenutak pripreme rucka.
Zelim vam lep i uspesan dan, sve najbolje za vikend.
Paja.
emka
(157280) 2019-06-14 0:18
Hello Sartya, Chinese breakfast in Kolkata. I love this jiaozi. I always eat dumpling for breakfast when I am in China. Excellent picture.
Kind regrads MAlgo
alvaraalto
(42804) 2019-06-14 6:40
Hello Satya,
Three beautiful complementary photos give an excellent picture of daily life in this Indian city. The accompanying information is also excellent and informative.
Excellent picture
Have a nice day, groet Rob
BennyV
(34746) 2019-06-15 7:12
Hello Satya
I didn't knwo about the Chinese link to Kolkata. These steamed buns are a great snack, I'm glad to see them around in Kolkata too. A simple, but great daily life scene, well captured.
Cheers
Benny
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Satya Ghosal (photographer_sg)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 394 W: 2 N: 994]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(6059) - Genre: Pessoas
- Medium: Cor
- Date Taken: 2018-03-11
- Categories: Vida Diária, Comida
- Exposição: 1/21 segundos
- Versão da Foto: Versão Original, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2019-06-13 6:44
